Falafel with Tahini Sauce

Falafel can easily be made at home. This crispy, aromatic classic is prepared with plenty of fresh herbs and aromatic spices, making the flavor intense yet balanced. While falafel can also be baked in the oven, they taste best when deep-fried in olive oil – this way they become crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

The MANI Bläuel "The Kitchen Hero" – our mild, 100% organic virgin olive oil – is perfect for deep-frying, as it can be heated to approx. 190°C without losing its valuable ingredients.

Ingredients

• 2 cans chickpeas
• ½ onion, roughly chopped
• 150 g fresh parsley (or 70 g coriander + 80 g parsley)
• 3 pieces MANI Garlic in Olive Oil
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp ground cardamom
• 1 tsp paprika powder
• a little black pepper
• 3 tbsp flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• MANI Bläuel „The Kitchen Hero“, 100% organic virgin olive oil for frying

For the Tahini Dressing

• 120 ml tahini
• 60 ml water
• Juice of 2 lemons
• 2 pieces MANI Garlic in Olive Oil, finely chopped
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp ground cumin

Preparation

1. Rinse the chickpeas well and put them in a food processor along with the onion, roughly chopped herbs, garlic, spices and salt. Pulse until the mixture is coarse and slightly grainy (not pasty).
2. Stir in the flour and baking powder, then let rest in the refrigerator for 30–60 minutes – this helps with shaping later.
3. Form small balls from the mixture.
4. Pour enough olive oil into a pot to a depth of 5–7 cm. Heat to approx. 180 °C and fry the falafel in batches for 1–2 minutes until golden brown. Then drain on paper towels.
5. For the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together tahini, water, lemon juice, garlic, salt and cumin until creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add a little more water or lemon juice until the desired consistency is reached.
6. Arrange the falafel on a serving platter and serve with the tahini dressing. It goes wonderfully as a side dish, on a salad, with Mediterranean main courses or in warm pita bread with fresh vegetables.